A Challenge To All

[Mjolnir]

I have been a hardcore Trekker for my whole life, and my fiance has never sat and watched a single episode! I want to get her into Trek (at least a little) and my challenge is thus:

Through fair debate, I want to boil down each series to one "essential episode". (Even DS9, as much as i dislike it) I know its hard to select just ONE, but it would be easier to get her to watch one at a time. Feel absolutely free to suggest episodes not on my list, as long as you explain why you think it captures the spirit of the series.
So, my preliminary list is as follows:

TOS:
"The City On The Edge Of Forever"
"The Menagerie"(Parts One and Two)
"Balance Of Terror"
"Space Seed"
"The Paradise Syndrome"

TNG:
"The Measure Of A Man"
"Where No One Has Gone Before"
"Who Watches The Watchers"
"The Inner Light"
"The Best Of Both Worlds" (Parts One and Two)

DS9:
I am not familiar enough with the series to say, so have at it.

VOY:
"Emanations"
"Flashback"
"Fair Trade"
"Real Life"
"Equinox" (Parts One and Two)

ENT:
"Shuttlepod One"
"Minefield"
"The Expanse"
"Damage"
"Demons/Terra Prime"

As you can see, I've included a two parter from each that I feel (NOTE: my personal opinion, and if you personally disagree, please do so courteously.) best expresses each series. Thank you! And away we go...

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well.. I don't think watching Demons/Terra Prime is fair to the series as all these people are strangers to her, you lose huge chunks of the poignancy of the Trip/T'Pol storyline.

It kind of depends on what she likes. If she is a romantic sort then sure, The Inner Light would be very very good. But if she is at all cynical and rolls her eyes at sentiment then she may not care for it cold, without the build up of a relationship with the characters. Not because it's soppy but because it is OLD and looks dated. We don't care about that but going in cold you want to keep that in mind. So if she's not the romantic type you might want to choose smarter episodes. Voyager's Counterpoint for instance is very smart, noir, tight episode with a great twist.

So yeah.. I could waffle on but it really depends on what kind of stuff she likes. Don't start with TOS unless she appreciates older stuff, if she's an older Dr. Who fan for instance go for it.

ENT has the advantage of looking much better than some of the more dated 90's eps, if that might in any way be an issue. You don't want your fiance falling off the couch laughing at cardboard sets.

If you don't like DS9 yourself just show her the series you do like. If you get her interested in watching even one series you have succeeded!

If you do go for TOS I would not pick The Menagerie, it is quite dated in feel and pacing. City, Balance, Tribbles.. those are nice tight eps that stand up well.

Voyager double eps are always excellent, if she likes some time travel Future's End is pretty fun.

And don't forget First Contact!!!!!!! That is a great intro to Trek movie.

 

[BillJ]

I always think people trying to introduce people to Trek... do it ass backwards. If you show someone the 'best of the best' a newcomers experience is going to be tainted (and likely short lived).

 

[lurok]

I am curious what a non-Trek viewer might make of a 'TOS tie-in' season:
The Trouble With Tribbles
Relics
Trials and Tribble-ations
In A Mirror Darkly Pt 2 (though I admit that one would be confusing!)

 

[lurok]

double post

 

[Saspearia]

When I wanted to assimilate my boyfriend (now my husband) I would casually put on some of the funnier/lighthearted episodes. anything with Q in it, the TNG Robin hood episode. DS9 - anything Quark episode, voyager - maybe the one where the doctor has to hide in 7 of 9's body?

Maybe if you're engaged, you could put on some wedding episodes?

Good luck!

 

[plynch]

TOS: "Devil in the Dark": It is an engaging adventure/mystery story (who/what/why is the creature?). It shows in the end that the "Other" -- even one who seems dangerous -- has a point of view and motivations, and is not necessarily bad or wrong. Plus, a great, empathetic mind-meld scene by the inimitable Nimoy. Plus, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!"

It is the quintessential Trek ep of all the series, to me.

 

[RandyS]

For TOS I recommend:

Mirror, Mirror
The Trouble With Tribbles
The Alternative Factor
The Thoilan Web
The Doomsday Machine
Amok Time

For TNG:

Yesterday's Enterprise
Parrallels

For DS9:

Trials and Tribble-ations
And most of that show

For Voyager:

Show her anything. Noting really stands out there.

For Enterprise:

In A Mirror Darkly 2 parter

 

[Mjolnir]

So yeah.. I could waffle on but it really depends on what kind of stuff she likes. Don't start with TOS unless she appreciates older stuff, if she's an older Dr. Who fan for instance go for it.

ENT has the advantage of looking much better than some of the more dated 90's eps, if that might in any way be an issue. You don't want your fiance falling off the couch laughing at cardboard sets.

If you don't like DS9 yourself just show her the series you do like. If you get her interested in watching even one series you have succeeded!

If you do go for TOS I would not pick The Menagerie, it is quite dated in feel and pacing. City, Balance, Tribbles.. those are nice tight eps that stand up well.

Voyager double eps are always excellent, if she likes some time travel Future's End is pretty fun.

And don't forget First Contact!!!!!!! That is a great intro to Trek movie.

Ok i see your point on the DS9 thing. See, shes already seen Generations so intro movie is out. (bad choice on my part)
Id like to stay away from time travel since sometimes I dont even get it. But then again I did put "City" for TOS...

 

[captcalhoun]

show her the pilots. that's the simplest thing, since it's the four episodes made to sell the shows to viewers.

 

[Avon]

show them a night in sickbay, threshold and a season 1 tng ep. and if they havent run away screaming its true love.

 

[Mjolnir]

show them a night in sickbay, threshold and a season 1 tng ep. and if they havent run away screaming its true love.

Threshold? Why not just show her Star Trek V, its just as bad! But then again isee your point, if she likes the worst, the best will be even better.
Or it could backfire and shed hate it. idk, which is exactly why this thread is here

 

[M-Red]

For TNG...try "Data's Day."

It's a lighthearted episode that captures the larger feel of TNG pretty well....just hanging out on the comfortable flagship, all through the eyes of the lovable android.

It will introduce your partner to all the characters and their personalities, and it adds some broader political context with the primary villains of the series.

 

[M-Red]

TOS -- "Errand of Mercy" -- just gives a good sense of the broader message of the franchise...Our Heroes and the Villains are fighting for a supposedly strategic area populated by primitives...some fun scenes between Kirk and Spock...a good villain...and a surprising twist that makes both sides (and their arguments) seem primitive and irrelevant. Good Trek.

DS9 -- "In the Cards" -- one the eve of war, we get to see an episode that blends everyday humor with the tense atmosphere surrounding the station and everyone on it....gives a good sense of multiple characters and it's expertly written to tie several threads together all at the end...very good for this sort of project imo


not sure about VOY....

 

[M-Red]

Agree with this --

TOS: "Devil in the Dark": It is an engaging adventure/mystery story (who/what/why is the creature?). It shows in the end that the "Other" -- even one who seems dangerous -- has a point of view and motivations, and is not necessarily bad or wrong. Plus, a great, empathetic mind-meld scene by the inimitable Nimoy. Plus, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!"

It is the quintessential Trek ep of all the series, to me.

and these...

The Thoilan Web
The Doomsday Machine
Amok Time

Hope the Trek introduction goes well....

 

[sbk1234]

Balance of Terror would be one of the best from TOS to introduce someone. It takes place entirely on the Enterprise, so she'll get a good feel of the main setting, and see the starship in operation (the main premise of the series). It's an early episode, so she'll be able to see character development happen in order. It has a complex antagonist and some sophisticated writing.
I also like Devil in the Dark for the reasons mentioned above.
Good luck with the conversion.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Let us know how it goes. mr. teacake does not watch Star Trek though he has been stopped dead in his tracks (to and fro the refrigerator) by the Doctor from VOY and has ended up watching Doctor scenes and laughing.

 

[RandyS]

I've got another one. Try showing her TATV before you show her anything else. With all the hate that episode gets, I've been curious to know what a first time viewer would make of it.

 

[JiNX-01]

TOS: Trouble With Tribbles
TNG: The Inner Light
DS9: The Magnificent Ferengi
VOY: Real Life
ENT: Similitude

 

[Satyrquaze]

show her the pilots. that's the simplest thing, since it's the four episodes made to sell the shows to viewers.

Seconded.